American Revolution
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THE CAMP-FIRE AT SPRINGFIELD
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It was the night of the 23d of June, 1780. The British army, which had crossed over from New York into Jersey,
with the object of marching to Morristown and capturing the stores there, had met a sever check at Springfield,
and had retreated, pursued by the militia. Early in the afternoon, General Greene had been compelled to fall back,
by the press of superior numbers, and had taken position on a range of hills, where the two roads,
along which the enemy had advanced in two columns, are brought so near to a point, that succor
could readily be given from one to the other. In this commodious position, Greene continued that night.
The night was a clear, moonlight one. Along the tops of the range of hills upon which the army was posted, the watch-fires were burning brightly, contrasting strangely with the pure, silver light of the moon. A short distance in front of the heights, might be seen the smoldering ruins of the once beautiful village of Springfield, desolated by the ruthless hand of the enemy. Upon the eminence furthest upon the Vauxhall road, Major Lee, with his dragoons and the pickets, was posted. That little band had that day fought bravely. They had maintained a pass called 'The Little Bridge,' against a greatly superior force, for a considerable tie; and in the end, it was only forced from its position by the enemy fording the river, and gaining the point of a hill. It was a part o that legion which, afterwards, was so distinguished in the south, and known as "Lee's legion." It being certain that the enemy had retreated beyond Elizabethtown, the feeling of security from attack relaxed, in some degree, the strict discipline under which the men were held, and they were now standing and sitting about the tents in groups, engaged in conversation. Near a small fire, upon the edge of the height, a group of men were half-sitting, half-lying on the ground. It consisted of five men --- two dragoons and three picket-men --- and they were lying in a sort of semicircle, evidently looking at the fast-paling embers of Springfield. "Caldwell," said one of the picket-guard, "what poor spite such work as that is anyhow! No doubt these rascals imagine that they make themselves feared by doing such deeds." "Yes, I suppose that is their object," replied Caldwell. "but I think the owners showed 'em they were a little out in their calculations. I'm told the militia pursued 'em till near sunset, when they got into Elizabethtown." "Well, if they did," said Hickey, another of the picket-guard, "they've made sure work of some of them, I know. These farmers and villagers know something about aiming a rifle." "It seems to me," said the first speaker, named Jones, "that this is the very course that'll help us along. If they had any knowledge of how things work, they might know that their true ;policy, to injure one cause, is to treat the people of the country in such a way as to make them like them. They don't seem to know that like breeds like." "If they would treat the people as they oughter," remarked the dragoon, named Dayton, "they really might put a damper on our prospects." "Yes, if they'd treat the people as they ought to, thee would be no use of fightin'" added Hickey. "Oh, we know that," returned Dayton; "but I mean now, while we're fightin'. If they'd happen to smooth over things with the people, by doin' 'em favors and kindnesses, they might soon bring 'em under their yoke again. But burnin' their houses will only make 'em stronger friends of the Congress." "I understand what you mean," said Hickey, "but you didn't say that." "Well, I said enough to make you understand me, and that's the end of talkin'," replied Dayton. "It strikes me," remarked the picket-guard who had not yet spoken, who was called Brown, "it strikes me, that the red-coat general went back a leetle dashed. I think, by the way he marched here, he thought he was going to do wonders." "Ah," said Caldwell, "that little stand of ours, at the bridge yonder, give him a little taste of what sort of fighting he might expect us to do. We're the boys that can do it, too. I don't want to brag of our troop, but it's just my opinion, that there's not a regiment of men in the army that will dare more, or accomplish more, than this same troop of dragoons." "No; nor there's not a more daring or more skillful leader than Major Henry Lee," added Dayton. "Well, you can brag as much as you please," said Jones. "Your troop is as good as any other, I suppose, but not a whit better. Major Lee may be all you say, but I can mention five or six, at least, who are his equals, if not superiors." "Mention one," said Caldwell, "who you think is his equal, if not his superior." "General Wayne," replied Jones. "I suppose you admit it; don't you?" "Ye---yes, said Caldwell. "He is his equal, but not his superior." "General Morgan," continued Jones. "He is another; --- isn't he?" "Morgan is certainly a brave and skilful man," was the reply. "You mustn't understand me to wish to detract from the merits of any of these officers.. they are all good in their way; but there's something so dashing and so enterprising about Lee, that it makes me prefer him to them all." "I suppose the reason of that is, because you fight under him always. You don't have a chance to see the bravery and skill of the others," said Jones. "That may be," replied Caldwell; "but it's a fact, nevertheless. I prefer him to all the other officers that are so much praised." "Was you in the troop at the storming of Stony Point, last year? Asked Hickey. "Yes, I was there, so Dayton can tell you," replied Caldwell. "Dayton was alongside of me." "To be sure, I was," said Dayton; "and at Paulus Hook, too." "I've heard that General Wayne's bravery and generalship on that night, could not be surpassed," observed Hickey. "No, but his bravery was equalled by every other officer that had the same chance of showing it," replied Caldwell. "Yes," added Dayton, "the two officers that commanded the forlorn hope were as brave as any men that ever walked up to a roarin' cannon's mouth." "They all done their duty well," continued Caldwell. "Caldwell," said Jones, "can't you give us an account of the affair? It won't take you a great while; and then we'll make Dayton tell us about the taking of Paulus Hook." "If you can," struck in Dayton. "But let's have your story, Caldwell." "I've no objection to telling you all I know about the matter," replied Caldwell. "But you must make Dayton agree to tell you all about Paulus Hook, or I won't go on. I don't like to do all the talking myself." Dayton consented, after much demurring, to ease his comrade of the burden of telling two stories in succession, and Caldwell commenced. "I suppose it will be best to give you an idea of what sort of a place Stony Point is, and how it is approached, first. It is situated, you know, on the Hudson river, twenty miles or more above New York. The river makes a short bend there. It is a small peninsula; very high and rocky. It can be attacked on three sides, by vessels of war, very easily; and for that reason, requires a very strong garrison to defend it. The only way it is approachable from the land, is through a morass and across a sandy beach, which is defended by a slight abattis. There was the remains of a bridge over one part of the morass, but it didn't help to make the passage much easier. You can form some faint idea from this, what sort of a post we had to capture." "I can see the difficulties you would have to meet," said Jones. "The project was a very daring one." "Who had the credit of planning the attack?" asked Brown. "The design of capturing the post was first started by the commander-in-chief himself," was the reply. "the plan was matured by the counsels of Wayne, Colonel Butler, and Major Henry Lee. You see, at the time the notion was first started, our troop was stationed nearer to Stony Point than any other part of the army was, and Lee's knowledge of the country around the post was more correct and full than that of anybody else. We were posted at a place called Haverstraw, about four miles below Stony 'Point. About the 10th of last July General Washington reconnoitred the Point, in person, and obtained a pretty correct draft of the works. The plan of attack was then agreed upon, at a conference. I think it was on the morning of the 15th, that our commander received orders to join the light infantry under General Wayne; and we were ordered to move as soon as we could get ready. You see, Jones, all the troops engaged in the affair were selected for their bravery and activity." "More bragging," returned Jones. "No, I don't say it to brag on our troop; but General Wayne said so in his orders before the attack." "I can bear with you," said Jones; "go on with your story." "Well, we all knew the business we had to do," continued Caldwell, "and I can leave it to Dayton to say whether we were not as anxious to make the attempt as any of the officers were. We were to join General Wayne at Sandy Beach, about fourteen miles from Stony Point; and when we arrived there, we found that all the Massachusetts light infantry had come down from West Point, and the sixth and ninth Pennsylvania regiments, I think it was, were already there. Well, we had the plan of attack and the general orders read to us by the adjutant. I don't suppose I can remember precisely how the orders run; but if I don't you can correct me, Dayton. We were to move from our position at twelve o'clock, commencing on the right, and making a short halt at the creek, which we had to cross on our way. No man was to leave the ranks, under any pretense whatever, until a general halt was made." "And then to be attended by an officer of the platoon," interrupted Dayton. "I recollect that very well; for I left them myself, and Corporal Bunn went with me." "Yes, I recollect," was the reply. "Our troop, and some infantry that Wayne had put under Major Lee's command, hadn't anything of much account to do. We were, of course, dismounted, and were to act as a reserve, and follow in the rear of the two columns. I read the plan of the attack, soon after the capture, and learned more about it than I could from hearing the adjutant describe it. The right column was formed of Colonel Febiner's regiment, Colonel Meigs' and Major Hull's Massachusetts infantry. This column was to be commanded by General Wayne himself. The left column was led by Colonel Butler, with Major Murfree in his rear. Then there was to be a sort of feint made in the centre, to draw the attention of the garrison away from the real points of attack. Every one of us, officers and men, was ordered to fix a piece of white paper in a part of his hat or cap where it could be seen, to distinguish him from the enemy. When the word was given to march, Colonel Fleury was to take charge of one hundred and fifty determined and picked men." "Not your troop," said Jones, harping on the same tune, of Caldwell's bragging. "No, not our troop; but we could have done it as well as they did, I guess," replied Caldwell. "But, as I said, Colonel Fleury was to take charge of one hundred and fifty determined and picked men. These men were to have their muskets unloaded, and to place their whole dependence on the bayonet. They were to move about twenty paces in front of the right column, and to enter the sallyport marked. Colonel Fleury was to detach an officer and twenty men, a little in front, to remove the abattis and secure the sentries. "When the works were forced, and not before, the troops were to give the watchword, and drive the garrison from their works and guns. Colonel Butler's column was to move by another route through the morass, preceded by one hundred picked men, with fixed bayonets. This hundred men were to detach an officer and twenty men a little in front, to remove the obstructions, in the same way as the other party. As soon as they could gain the works, they were to give the watchword, so as to prevent mistake. In the advance, the strictest silence was o be kept by all. The orders concluded with an address to the men, offerin a reward of five hundred dollars to the first man who would enter the works, and a promotion besides. The second, third, fourth, and fifth, were also to receive a reward." "That, no doubt, helped considerable to make the troops do their best," observed Hickey. |
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